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CB Sustainable Home and Construction Review of Stanley Martin Builders
Stanley Martin Builders

Stanley Martin Builders review: Watch your money 12

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8:27 am EDT
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Made a large deposit on what was supposed to be my families dream home in April of 2004, which turned out to be a nightmare My loan company backed out of the contract at signing and the builder (Stanley Martin) refused to go any farther or by law, give me another chance to find another lender. And in doing so, they are holding my deposit hostage for reasons beyond any law understanding. They are refusing to bargain with anything, sensible or ethical. And are trying to charge me 300 a day to stay in the house, as "an option". Needless to say, the ugliest people come in all shapes and sizes, no matter how big there bank roll. Based on their on contract they are in fault. By no means did I back out of the contract. It was the lender and the builder that pull out! Leaving me without my HUGE deposit! If anyone has ever did business with Stanley Martin watch your back because they are watching your money closer than you are! And by no means are they trying to give it back if something goes wrong!

Resolved

The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.

12 comments
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Christy Larson
, US
Aug 23, 2023 11:43 am EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I purchased my home 11/2022 new in NC. During the walk through before closing many items were addressed that needed to be fixed. No formal punch list was provided other than a notepad by the company was used. I have been documenting and begging for someone to complete the 60 day warranty list since that time.

Due to issues with their company, my 60 day work list has still not been completed as of 8/23/2023. I have copied the NC President on all emails and have yet to hear any form of solutions from his desk. Now, in the defense of the project forum, I did say to him I understood he had been handed an F'ing mess, but if he couldn't address the ALL issues he could leave.

Well, he left. It's now 8mths past my 60 warranty check and I still have the following issues that have not been fixed:

No hot water in the kitchen... Forman states tepid is good

Exposed Siding that was cut incorrectly

Floor that was cut incorrectly by floor installer

Damaged Doors - Master, Bedroom, Laundry, Attic

Painting - Door frames not painted-

Painting - External Window frames exposed to elements - not painted

Soffit & Utilities - not caulked and exposed to elements

Carpentry - Shoe Molding and such

Dead Plants -2 Dead since closing date 11/2023

Bedroom- Ceiling fan with cracked ceiling - Provided picture - still not addressed

Drywall tape pulling away from seams in foyer-noted a closing

I have repeatedly explained my fear would be that items not completed by the 1 year would be in jeopoady of not being handled. I have maintained detailed notes for additional avenues of recourse.

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Hamid Madi
, US
Jul 07, 2023 2:51 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Just closed less than 3 months ago, the worst experience ever. SM planted a dead tree in our front yard before closing, we have been asked by the HOA to replace it. we reached out to SM and they replaced the dead tree with another dead tree. They are now refusing to plant a live tree. SM does not care about veterans, much less disabled veterans.

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unssica
, US
Jun 23, 2018 10:14 am EDT

BUYER BEWARE! Have had our home for less than 4 years and it’s falling apart. Have had to get the AC fixed every year, plumbing issues, and now water leaking through the window frame into the home on rainy days. Tried contacting the warranty department over the last several years and haven’t gotten a response. They were great until we moved into the home and then it’s like we don’t exist anymore. It’s even mentioned on glassdoor by an employee that after the sales the warranty department lacks follow up and doesn’t pay much into retention.

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Court222
, US
Jan 16, 2018 5:32 pm EST

I’m so upset. We are building in villages of piedmont in haymarket, va and nobody can tell me why we can’t build a morning room on our lot of land!

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StanleyMa
, IL
Aug 12, 2014 3:05 am EDT

Horrible builder and horrible customer service. Lying liars who lie from their lying mouths. Everything is a hassle and then they try to get out of what they said. AVOID AT ALL COSTS.

When one of the construction guys or sales or customer service people gives you their word they somehow wind up at another project so that the next guy can say he has no clue what you're talking about.

A specific example was in regards to premium custom design work. They charged me tens of thousands of dollars then claimed that the sub went out of business and so they can't refund my money. Truly disgusting.

BUYER BEWARE

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jaquar
, US
Mar 06, 2013 12:22 pm EST

i am currently in process with stanley martin and the dark side has come out. To bad I did not listen to the reviews I read I thought it was just people mad but the level of customer service is terrible and they lie lie lie. Their contracts are written to protect them which is fine but the terrible part is they fail to provide customer service which they try to praise themselves on having. They don't answer calls, smile in your face when you go to them face to face and they are always in meetings when you call. I literally had the secretary tell me the gm was in her office then 5 min late say sorry she actually left the building can you leave a message. All because the gm was afraid of an upset customer. Beware Beware you've been warned.

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ajayp
Falls Church, US
May 25, 2012 3:49 am EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

bought a home from Stanley Martin about a month ago in falls crest community in falls church, VA. Every time it rains, it leaks inside the home. It has been two weeks nothing has resolved the problem. Very poor customer service.

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ajayp
Falls Church, US
May 25, 2012 3:45 am EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

bought a home in falls crest, falls church, VA about a month ago. Every time it rains it rains inside our bed room. Even after two week of complain. Nothing is done. Water has poured on the bed as well as carpet. Very poor customer service. Do not buy any thing from them. It is very cheap quality work.

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PriorCustomer
Reston, US
May 15, 2012 11:31 pm EDT

Stanley Martin Builders

If in Fairfax County Virginia. Try Better Business Bureau, then Consumer Protection, then go to the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR).

These three will help you with your issues.

Stanley Martin will probably reply with all the stuff they "did" for you.

However they fail to address the contractual items that they were required to "do" under the agreement.

So stay focused on what is written, signed and agreed and you should be good. Any verbal items should be noted before, during and after any issues are noted and emailed / mailed to them with return receipt.

If you stay focused on the agreement and work with these organizations they will, after time, will provide resolutions.

Don't believe what they say - only what they put on paper and sign or send to you. Get it in writing.

Good Luck.

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Stanley Martin likes Barber Ross
We build poor quaily homes, US
Mar 09, 2012 3:49 am EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Stanley Martin used Barber and Ross windows knowing they had serious quality control issues. Many of Stanley Martins windows are failing at the seal after only 7 years. Barber and Ross has long since gone out of business to no ones surprise. Stanley Martin choose to jump in bed with Barber and Ross and was one of their largest customers. Stanley Martin did not care about the quality issues banking that it would not come back to them when they failed.

Stanley Martin choose to continue to purchase windows from Barber and Ross because of price and ignored the complaint and problems Barber and Ross was experiencing. If you are thinking of purchasing a home from Stanley Martin please be aware of how they run the company. Run do not walk away from Stanley Martin.

Stanley Martin has refused to resolve the Barber and Ross issues.

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blablaghost
Reston, US
Jun 13, 2011 3:44 am EDT

Check everything with this builder. They will promise you the world and then will slowly change the rules once you are hooked. The president is great - he works intimately with the customer and addresses all the issues until it is handed off to his team of less than knowledgeable overseers. Watch them like a hawk and get pictures. Ensure you have a home inspection prior to drywall and before settlement. By the way they will try to drywall within 24 hours after any approved cover-up inspection. Ensure they don't dump another one of their building's waste on your property, I have heard they do that. I have friends going through hell with this builder as well as some who couldn't care less about the property - they want the quick sale. Stanley Martin has a good following in Northern VA - but like Viggen stated above it isn't what you see it is how it is built. Also ensure to check the foundation throughout the process as I hear the beams are not to code or building standards, joists are thrown up without necessary supports, and foundation items crack. I sat a ball on my friend's kitchen floor and it rolled without assistance. They are putting up an enormous number of homes last year and this year and I know their quality is going down. If they keep up this building momentum they will probably end up losing credibility with low-quality constructed homes that fall down. My hope is that anyone who picks this builder has someone look over the contract and get everything straight - there is much in the contract you need to know and the loop poles for and against the builder are exceptional if you know what it means.

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viggen
Rockville, US
May 07, 2011 3:59 pm EDT

Stanley-Martin are the ugliest SON-OF-MOTHERS. Deceitful, liars, irrisponsible, poor quality producers and cheats. If I had known 10 years ago, I would NOT have put money in a Stanley-Martin dump (I am ashamed calling it a home). The construction quality is poor (calling it poor is going easy on S-M), usage of subsandard/inappropriate materials (including plumbing, structural construction, imperfect supports for ceillings, walls, walls not being up straight but tilted, squeeky, cracly floors that would wake up neibors 2-3 doors on both sides, god-awful carpet installations, absolute trashy basement waterproofing, shingles flyin away with a slightest hint of a wind (I have already had patches repaired twice, and it is ready to go again), defective windows. If I believed in guns and violence, I would love to shoot these ### down!